Electronic Exercise Monitor with Human Facsimile and Audible Feedback

ABSTRACT

An interactive electronic exercise software program and mobile electronic device application with audible feedback resides in a human facsimile apparatus used as a dance partner during aerobic exercises. The interactive software program creates the illusion of working out with a friend, companion or personal trainer, providing interactive visual and auditory stimulus designed to make the workout enjoyable so that the user will continue to work out on a regular basis. The interactive software program is also designed to motivate the user to exercise and to continue exercising for an optimal duration. The interactive software program monitors the user&#39;s workout and provides audible feedback to the user regarding workout practices and results, and may respond to user input, such as speech or keypad entry, or may be equipped with sensors to provide feedback on the workout itself.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/751,015, filed Jan. 10, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to electronic exercise monitoring software programs and mobile electronic device applications, and in particular to an interactive electronic exercise software program and mobile electronic device application with audible feedback, that resides in a human facsimile apparatus used as a dance partner during aerobic exercises. Persons who exercise often have trouble monitoring their workouts and determining progress that has been made, and whether the workout has been completed. Further, older persons, particularly persons over the age of 40, may often feel a lack of incentive to exercise due to a lack of a workout partner. The interactive software program and the human facsimile apparatus create the illusion of working out with a friend, companion or personal trainer, providing interactive visual and auditory stimulus designed to motivate the user to enjoy exercising, and to continue to exercise on a regular basis as well as to exercise for an optimal duration. The software program monitors the user's workout and provides audible feedback to the user regarding workout practices and results, and may respond to user input, such as speech or keypad entry, or may be equipped with sensors to provide feedback on the workout itself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention is directed to an interactive electronic exercise software program and mobile electronic device application with audible feedback that resides in a human facsimile apparatus used as a dance partner during aerobic exercises. The interactive software program creates the illusion of working out with a friend, companion or personal trainer, providing interactive visual and auditory stimulus designed to make the workout enjoyable so that the user will continue to work out on a regular basis. The interactive software program is also designed to motivate the user to exercise and to continue exercising for an optimal duration. The interactive software program monitors the user's workout and provides audible feedback to the user regarding workout practices and results, and may respond to user input, such as speech or keypad entry, or may be equipped with sensors to provide feedback on the workout itself.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification. They illustrate one embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a front view of the human facsimile apparatus 10 of the first exemplary embodiment, with the elastic band removed, showing the vertical member 11, the horizontal member 12, the handles 13, the spring 14, the head 15, and legs 16.

FIG. 2 shows the back view of the human facsimile apparatus 10 produced by the first exemplary embodiment, with the elastic band removed, showing the vertical member 11 the horizontal member 12, the handles 13, the spring 14, and the head 15, and legs 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, the invention is directed to an interactive electronic exercise software program and mobile electronic device application with audible feedback that resides on a human facsimile apparatus 10. The interactive software program creates the illusion of working out with a friend, companion or personal trainer, providing an interactive human facsimile apparatus 10 which will provide visual and auditory stimulus designed to motivate the user to exercise and to continue exercising for an optimal duration. The interactive software program monitors the user's workout and provides audible feedback to the user regarding workout practices and results, and may respond to user input, such as speech or keypad entry, or may be equipped with sensors to provide feedback on the workout itself.

The human facsimile apparatus 10 will include a horizontal member 12, a vertical member 11, and a head 15. The vertical member 11 will be the approximate height of a human and the horizontal member 12 will be the approximate width of human shoulders; the length of each will be adjustable by the user. The horizontal member 12 will be affixed in a cross configuration to the vertical member 11 at a comfortable gripping height for a human user. Handles 13 will be attached to the horizontal member 12 using threaded studs, and will be easily removed to be used as exercise weights, and then replaced. The vertical member 11 will be supported at its base by a spring 14. This allows the vertical member 11 to be tilted in all directions, and returned to its neutral position at vertical. Facsimile legs 16, optionally with athletic shoes or facsimile athletic shoes as shown, may be affixed to the vertical member 11 near the base. The vertical member 11 may also have a removable elastic band at its base, which may be installed for such activities as leg and thigh stretches or removed for other exercises.

The head 15 would preferably contain the device's electronic components, including a microprocessor, memory device, a microphone, one or more speakers, and wireless or wired connection for electronic communication with monitoring attachments. The horizontal member 12 and the vertical member 11 would be preferably composed of PVC and the head 15 of the human facsimile apparatus 10 would preferably be composed of high-impact, molded plastic. The outward appearance of the human facsimile apparatus may have any desired characteristics, including a male or female appearance and appearance of any ethnic background or age; different versions may be provided according to user preference.

Electronic monitoring attachments for the device may be worn by the user around the waist, chest, arm, or leg to monitor cardiac and respiratory rates, muscle contractions and/or cyclical motion such as running, lifting or cycling. Electronic monitoring attachments may also be placed under an exercise mat or attached to a stationary cycle, elliptical machine, barbell, weight machine or other exercise equipment. A switch, such as a contact switch or mercury switch, would be used to measure repetitions. The interactive software monitoring program preferably provides audible feedback to the user in a multitude of forms, including repetitions of the cyclical movement per minute, total repetitions performed, total time elapsed, cardiac and respiratory rates, and estimates of calories burned, using both digital displays and recorded or synthesized verbal messages. The interactive software monitoring program also preferably provides audible messages of encouragement to motivate the user. These messages will encourage continued repetition of the exercise until the planned exercise period is completed.

The interactive software monitoring program may stand alone in devices other than the human facsimile apparatus 10, such as a mobile electronic device, a personal computer, the console of exercise equipment such as a treadmill or elliptical machine, or some other device. In this second exemplary embodiment, the interactive software monitoring program will preferably provide a visual guide to the user to demonstrate the correct body form while performing an exercise. The visual guide may be an animated trainer or exercise partner, or it may consist of live action film clips of a trainer or exercise partner. It will also preferably identify correct motions, and provide advisories to improve exercise motions when they are incorrect.

The interactive software monitoring system would preferably consist of the above described monitoring attachments, which respond to and measure motion associated with the exercise performed and transmit signals; a processor to receive the signals and determine the audio and digital messages to be transmitted to the user; a memory device for storage of sound data indexed with a plurality of values corresponding to the monitored exercise activity; the sound data itself, preferably comprised of data that represents the plurality of values; and a voice generator, reproducing recorded statements in an actual human voice, or a voice synthesizer creating a lifelike human voice. The content of the speech may include statements of encouragement, instructions, and feedback on the workout session.

Components listed are preferable; however, artisans will recognize that alternative components could be selected without altering the scope of the invention.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is presently considered to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should, therefore, not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A human facsimile workout apparatus comprising: (a) a vertical member; (b) a horizontal member; (c) said vertical member being the approximate height of a human user; (c) said horizontal member being rigidly affixed to said vertical member in a cross configuration; (d) said horizontal member being rigidly affixed to said vertical member at a comfortable gripping height for said human user; (e) said horizontal member being of a length approximately equal to the shoulder width of said human user; (f) said horizontal member terminating at its distal ends in a pair of handles; (g) said pair of handles being removably affixed to said horizontal member at its distal ends; (h) a facsimile human head; (i) said facsimile human head being affixed to said vertical member at its top end; (j) a spring; (k) said spring being affixed to said vertical member at its lower end; (l) a pair of legs; (m) said legs being affixed to said vertical member near its lower end.
 2. The human facsimile workout apparatus of claim 1 wherein said human facsimile workout apparatus contains an internally mounted electronic device comprising a microprocessor, memory, microphone, speakers, external input connections, and a software program, said software program being stored on said memory and executed by said microprocessor, and said software program being capable of performing the following steps: (a) presenting pre-recorded or generated speech; (b) presenting speech content comprising encouragement to said human user; (c) presenting speech content comprising workout instructions to said human user; (d) accepting voice command input from said human user.
 3. The human facsimile workout apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of electronic monitoring apparatus, said electronic monitoring apparatus being configured so as to measure biometric data of said human user, said electronic monitoring apparatus being in electronic communication with said internally mounted electronic device via said external input connections, and said software program being further capable deriving workout feedback data from said electronic monitoring apparatus and of presenting speech content comprising said workout feedback data to said human user.
 4. The human facsimile workout apparatus of claim 2 wherein said electronic device further comprises an electronic display, and wherein said software program is further capable of displaying a visual guide, the content of said visual guide pertaining to workout instruction.
 5. The human facsimile workout apparatus of claim 3 wherein said electronic device further comprises an electronic display, and wherein said software program is further capable of displaying a visual guide, the content of said visual guide pertaining to workout instruction.
 6. The human facsimile workout apparatus of claim 5 wherein the content of said visual guide further comprises visual representations based upon said workout feedback data.
 7. The human facsimile apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pair of handles are of increased mass whereby said human user may perform hand weighted exercises while holding said pair of handles when said pair of handles are removed from said horizontal member.
 8. The human facsimile apparatus of claim 2 wherein said pair of handles are of increased mass whereby said human user may perform hand weighted exercises while holding said pair of handles when said pair of handles are removed from said horizontal member.
 9. The human facsimile apparatus of claim 3 wherein said pair of handles are of increased mass whereby said human user may perform hand weighted exercises while holding said pair of handles when said pair of handles are removed from said horizontal member.
 10. The human facsimile apparatus of claim 4 wherein said pair of handles are of increased mass whereby said human user may perform hand weighted exercises while holding said pair of handles when said pair of handles are removed from said horizontal member.
 11. The human facsimile apparatus of claim 5 wherein said pair of handles are of increased mass whereby said human user may perform hand weighted exercises while holding said pair of handles when said pair of handles are removed from said horizontal member.
 12. The human facsimile apparatus of claim 6 wherein said pair of handles are of increased mass whereby said human user may perform hand weighted exercises while holding said pair of handles when said pair of handles are removed from said horizontal member. 